21 years in PRISM
21 YEARS IN PRISM: Destined to be be performed on the stage (or in your living room), but for now, starting out in your imagination as a podcast in 6 episodes.
A teacher shares a trick of the trade with a young colleague and it changes everything. Unfortunately.
“21 yrs in PRISM ” is an action-packed 2-person musical with dozens of characters. The two actors do not play multiple roles. They each embody and remain their one character throughout, as events swirl around them. DR. STRUM (Paranoid Larry) is an experienced Public Junior High School Science teacher — a master at controlling his classes. MR. JAMESON (Andrés Roberto Robledo) is a brand new Math teacher and his classroom is riotous bell-to-bell chaos. He seeks help from the legendary DR.STRUM — who gives him some unusual advice. Other characters significant to the story are Mrs. Walkfaster, the micro-managing principal; Ms. Pierce, the beautiful Art teacher who JAMESON is trying to summon the nerve to ask out on a date; STRUM’s teenage daughter, Sara; and the all-powerful Liaison to the the Chancellor’s Liaison. Though they are always somewhere offstage and never seen nor heard, they are real personalities and directly affect what happens. Also very present but unseen and unheard for reasons that eventually become clear, are the several students, and the encounter around which the story revolves. Perceptions begin to change as JAMESON and STRUM gradually come to understand the unexpected power of the advice given, resulting in far-reaching and life-changing consequences for all involved. Filled with humor, a wide range of emotions and an outstanding score, this hard-hitting story is brimming with theatricality. And despite its school setting, the show is about much more than education alone, as we’re left to consider what part of the heart is the hardest, and what we choose to actually see. And, at its core, “21 Years In PRISM ” is the universal story of two people wrestling with their individual issues and undergoing personal transformations as an unlikely friendship is formed.
Directors, Producers, Investors, Sponsors and Aficionados: The Script, Piano-Vocal Score, Karaoke versions, and other items are also available. The show clearly has a strong visual element, and is generally family-friendly. An Addendum to the Script is available, pointing out the few changes to make it completely appropriate for school productions. And if desired (and for community or school productions), the cast can be joined by a chorus line of singers and dancers attired in school uniforms such as cafeteria ladies, security and crossing guards, a nurse, custodians, etc. Still, the two-character version presented in the script offers a powerful show with tour-de-force performances. Musical Arrangements by Jen Turner and Ross Bonadonna. Book, Music and Lyrics by Paranoid Larry (based on the AUDELCO Award-Nominated Play)
21 years in PRISM
1. Monday: "What Part of the Heart is the Hardest?"
ACT ONE:
Monday.
We meet MR. JAMESON, a brand new Public Junior High School Math teacher, whose classes are riotous bell-to-bell chaos. He seeks help from DR. STRUM, an experienced Science teacher who is a master of class control, and is given some surprising advice. Includess the songs "Today's Lesson", "Rumors", "Those Who Can Teach", "The Legendary Dr. Strum", and "What Part of the Heart?".